Cormac MacConnell: Pub talk offers greater wisdom than any TV

One learns something new every day and especially every night that you are fortunate enough to wander gently into the right kind of public house.

Usually, these ones are in the country, rather than in the town, are not dominated by huge TV screens filling the bar with either soap or soccer, have survived the recession, because of the support of their regulars, are famed locally for the quality of their portery pints, have a wise man in charge of the taps, have long ago barred every blackguard within 25 miles, and often have an intriguingly interesting stranger holding forth at the bar.

Again, I am broadcasting the purest of truths and ye all know that by now. Well as I know the highways and byways of the Banner County by now, I was blessed to discover such a special establishment this week, at a time when the raffish-enough stranger in the corner was in full and fascinating flow.